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Greetings!
Welcome to the July edition of the Christmas Exchange E-Newsletter. Scroll to the end of the newsletter for your chance to win a prize by answering our Fund Fact question.
Please feel free to forward this e-mail to any individual or organization you think may be interested in receiving our monthly e-newsletter.
For more information about the Christmas Exchange, click here to visit our website.
To send your donation now, click here.
"Summertime and the livin' is easy..." but that doesn't mean that Christmas Exchange is not hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. With the economic situation as it is, we anticipate the need for assistance this year to increase from previous year.
- In 2008, Christmas Exchange provided direct food assistance to 25,180 people (9,278 families) of which 11,287 (an alarming 45%) were children and 2,198 were seniors.
- With our centralized database, we also coordinated assistance for an additional 2,963 families and referred 11,702 children to the Salvation Army Toy Centre.
- The centralized database saved the community over $700,000 in 2008 through the identification of duplicate applications for both food from Christmas Exchange and toys from the Salvation Army Toy Centre.
 Although Christmas is still a few months away, you can help by making a donation to Christmas Exchange now so we can better prepare for the December holiday season.
Read Colleen's story, one of the people who were helped by your donation to Christmas Exchange.
Colleen*
Colleen led a comfortable middle class life growing up, attended university and became a financial analyst. Her middle class status continued after she married and became a stay at home mom of three small children ages 2, 4 and 5, and ran a small home-based business with her husband. Colleen's life was turned upside down overnight when her husband of several years emptied out all their bank accounts, including the one for their joint business, and disappeared with the family car. With no job Colleen could not make the mortgage payments, car payments or cover the unpaid bills. She had no choice but to pack up what few belongings would fit into a couple of garbage bags and leave the family home with her three children. The unimaginable had happened and Colleen had to apply for social assistance. Putting food on the table turned into a daily struggle. It all happened a decade ago, but Colleen has never forgotten the surge of hope she felt getting a grocery voucher from Christmas Exchange that first Christmas on her own. Within six months Colleen had found a job and taken the necessary steps to get her family's lives back on track. Today, Colleen is happily remarried and her main concern now is to help others who have fallen on hard times through no fault of their own. *Please note that for confidentiality reasons, all names have been changed. |
| The Latest News |
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With summer well on its way, the Christmas Exchange is already hard at work planning events well into the holiday season! Please read about all the ways Christmas Exchange is working to keep you updated on all our upcoming events, including the launch later this summer of our new website! Highlights from the 2009 Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Reception The 2009/2010 Board of Directors was presented at our annual AGM on June 24th, as former Vice President, Rebecca Stanisic moved into the President's chair, and Pete Larocque became the Vice President. This past year we lost our Treasurer, Donna MacGregor, who passed away May 19, 2009, and will be missed. A new Treasurer, François Thivierge has joined the board, along with four other new members; Roy A. Anderson, Thom Bourne, Helen Byon and Mark B. Lindsay. We look forward to working with these new team members in the upcoming year! Leaving the Board of Directors this year was Réjean Saumure, who served as our Fundraising Chair, and William C.A. Wyman Past President. Please click here to download a copy of our 2008-2009 annual report or email merryxmas@storm.ca to receive a hard copy. FacebookHave Facebook? Why not become a fan of the Christmas Exchange Page! With detailed event listings and recent updates sent to fans regularly, it is one way to keep updated on all things about the Christmas Exchange! To become a fan, or invite your friends to join, please visit our Facebook page today. Twitter
Christmas Exchange is now on Twitter! With updates daily, it is one way to know what the staff at the Christmas Exchange are working on and also to learn of new, can't miss items that we will have at our Caring & Sharing Charity Auction before anyone else does! Visit our Twitter page to view our tweets and to follow us on one of the fastest growing networking sites online! Youtube
Youtube is now home to the Christmas Exchange PSA! All new videos from events and any new Public Service Announcements will be uploaded to our channel for all to see! It is one way to see the highlights of events and exactly why Christmas Exchange is dedicated to helping those in need in the Ottawa area. To view our channel or subscribe to it, please click here. |
| Volunteer Profile |
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 Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman was a member of the Board of Directors of Christmas Exchange from 2000-2008, serving as Fundraising Chair, President and Past President Bill is the former owner of the Hallmark/Davis Agency, a company founded by his father. Bill's support of Christmas Exchange extends back to the 1980s when the Davis Agency (as it was known then) helped us out by selling tickets to fundraising events on behalf of Christmas Exchange.
We spoke with Bill to discuss his time at the Christmas Exchange and here is what he had to say.
Q. Your company, the Davis Agency, has been helping the Christmas Exchange since the 1980s, what prompted you to help this cause?
A. In the mid 1990's, we were trying to empower our employees by encouraging them to think of ways to make the company stand out in the minds of our customers. One suggestion, that everyone agreed upon, was to raise funds for charities. The first year we chose three charities, Breast Cancer, CHEO and the Christmas Exchange. It was a big success and we raised a lot of money, both by participating in runs etc. but also by asking our customers to help by donating an extra dollar or so at the time of sale.
Q. After years of helping, what made you decide to join the Board in 2000?
A. I was contacted by Bonnie Grey, the President and asked if I would sit on the Board. I agreed.
Q. Is there any event you are most proud of partaking in with the Christmas Exchange or spearheading?
A. Well, although it was not my idea, the event I enjoyed the most was the Bake Sale, followed by going to visit schools with Wayne Rostad to accept the pennies that the children had raised.
Q. What is your fondest memory of being a part of the Christmas Exchange?
A. Without doubt, the people on the Board and the volunteers I served with. They are the most selfless and giving people. It makes me proud to have worked with them.
Q. Do you have any final words about the Christmas Exchange or for those involved with the organization?
A. These are hard times and the services of the Christmas Exchange will be needed more than ever. I would hope that challenges will be met by new and innovative ideas, by everyone associated with the Christmas Exchange. I believe the 2009/10 Board, under Becky, will strive to keep a 94 year old tradition moving forward. Hard times call for hard work!
Q. What would you give as advice to people wanting to help out with the Christmas Exchange but who are not sure where they can be of the best assistance?
A. The Christmas Exchange not only needs money, but needs volunteers to do so many things which helps the Christmas Exchange deliver their services. If you have the time, even a few hours a month, you can make a difference. Call the Christmas Exchange at 613-226-6434 and find out what you can do. It is a rewarding experience.
PS: Money is still good too!!
We thank Bill for his years of dedication to the Christmas Exchange; he will be surely missed by everyone on the board and staff. We wish him the best of luck in all that he does in the coming years and hope to see him out at some of our events!
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| Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss: |
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Christmas comes to Ottawa early again this year with the Christmas in July breakfast BBQ, July 8th at Fallowfield Transit Station from 6:00 a.m. to 9: 00 a.m. The breakfast will consist of either peameal bacon or turkey bacon on a bun, breakfast bars, juice, and coffee provided by Starbucks. Although the breakfast is free, donations will be collected for the Christmas Exchange to help provide families in need with food and joy during the December holiday season. This year's event is sponsored by Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Mattamy Homes, EMC Nepean/ Barrhaven, 'A' Ottawa, Starbucks and OC Transpo.
Come and join in on the fun, food, and Christmas spirit in this rare opportunity to meet Santa and celebrate Christmas in the warm weather!
Senator Mike Duffy is this year's Honourary Chair of The 2nd Annual Caring & Sharing Charity Auction presented by District Realty Corporation, which will take place on September 29, 2009 at the Hellenic Meeting & Reception Centre on Prince of Wales. This event will once again feature an amazing four course dinner accompanied by both a silent and live auction with proceeds benefitting The Huntington Society and Christmas Exchange. Don't miss your chance to bid on auction items that you can't find anywhere else such as a rare opportunity to visit beautiful California and experience a VIP set tour of the #1 Daytime serial The Young and the Restless! The trip includes free air fare provided by WestJet, a visit to the on-set hair and makeup, the ability to have a behind-the-scenes look at how much goes into making the show by watching them film for 2-4 hours, and also the chance to meet the cast filming that day and get your picture taken with them! This once in a lifetime trip is one you will not find anywhere else so order your tickets to the Caring & Sharing Charity Auction today to avoid missing out! To view more one of a kind auction items, and to order your tickets, visit the Caring and Sharing Website or call us at 613-226-6434.
Back by popular demand, the Christmas Exchange is once again holding its Ottawa's Biggest Bake Sale presented by TD Canada Trust, Saturday, October 10, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Billings Bridge Shopping Centre. Many local community groups and bakeries will be selling delicious baked goods just in time for Thanksgiving, proceeds benefitting the participating groups and the Christmas Exchange. There will also be raffle prizes to be won including a $500 Billings Bridge Shopping Centre gift certificate. If your school, church group or community organization is interested in participating in the Bake Sale, please email merryxmas@storm.ca or call 613-226-6434 for more information .
Or, drop us a line by email at merryxmas@storm.ca, or phone us at 613-226-6434. |
| Fund Fact |
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Thank you to everyone who participated in the October 2008 Fund Fact. The correct answer to our question; "What is the average value of the food voucher provided to each family?" was $75.
This month's Fund Fact question is:
What is the ratio of money saved by the community per dollar spent on the Exchange Centralized Database?
B) 15: 1
C) 100: 1
D) 2:1
As usual, all of the answers can be found on the website under the About Us section. Reply by July 31 with the correct answer to merryxmas@storm.ca and be entered into a prize draw. | |
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